Friday, September 2, 2022

Dear friend, 

Starting next Saturday, September 10th, through October 22nd, all Blue and Yellow line stations south of Reagan National Airport will close to prep for the new Potomac Yard Station. The purpose of the closure is to rehabilitate the Yellow Line tunnel and bridge between Pentagon and L'Enfant Plaza stations and connect the new Potomac Yard Station to the mainline rail system.


More information: Major Blue and Yellow Line Construction Plan


Seven free shuttles will be offered during Phase One, including local and express shuttles in Virginia and three limited-stop shuttles crossing the Potomac River.

  • Local shuttles will be available during all Metrorail operating hours.
  • Blue Line Local
  • Local service between Franconia-Springfield, Van Dorn St, King St-Old Town, Braddock Rd, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport stations every 10-20 minutes
  • Yellow Line Local
  • Local service between Huntington, Eisenhower Ave, King St-Old Town, Braddock Rd, and Crystal City stations every 10-15 minutes. Yellow Line shuttles do not stop at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Station.
  • Express shuttles will be available most of the day (from 4:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. weekends).
  • Blue Line Express: Franconia-Pentagon
  • Express service between Franconia-Springfield and Pentagon stations every 6 minutes
  • Yellow Line Express: Huntington-Pentagon
  • Express service between Huntington and Pentagon stations every 6 minutes



Also, Fairfax County Government offices are closed Monday, Sept. 5, for the Labor Day holiday. Some facilities are open, but schedules may vary.


For specific schedule information visit: http://ow.ly/AWom50Kxbnl

Please contact my office if we can assist you. 

Email: leedist@fairfaxcounty.gov (My team is working on an updated email)

Phone 703-971-6262

-Rodney
Table of Contents
  1. Community Meeting for Proposed Land Use Changes Off Villa Park Road
  2. Community Conversations with Fairfax County Superintendent, Dr. Reid 
  3. September is the start of National Preparedness Month!
  4. VRE Fare-Free September
  5. Updated Library Hours
  6. GreenDrop Festival
  7. Lake Accotink's 60th Anniversary Celebration Wrapup
  8. Volunteer Opportunity with GrandInvolve
  9. Upcoming George Mason University Events
  10. Hidden in Plain Sight
  11. Election Page Program
  12. COVID-19 Updates
  13. COVID-19 Resources

Community Meeting for Proposed Land Use Changes off

Villa Park Road

Do you live near Backlick Road and Franconia-Springfield Parkway? If so, join the virtual Community Meeting on September 7th at 7 pm to learn about a proposed land use change. Towns at Villa Park, LLC has proposed to build 42 townhouses on a site of approximately 5.81 acres. The Board of Supervisors requested that staff consider increasing the recommended density of the site in order to accommodate this proposal.

 

Attend the virtual meeting to learn more and share input on this proposed land use change!


Please share with your neighbors.


The meeting link and plan amendment details are available online: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-development/plan-amendments/villa-park-rd.

Community Conversations with Dr. Reid

This fall, Dr. Reid, the Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent, has scheduled a series of community conversations at high schools across the County. Below is a list of Franconia District high schools she will be visiting with registration links.


Event Registration

 

In the event there is a schedule change, here is the link that includes a list of all FCPS high schools where the community conversations will be held.

 

All events are held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Interpretation services, child care, and light refreshments will be provided.

September is the start of National Preparedness Month!

Help spread awareness about preparing for disasters and emergencies because the life you've built is worth protecting.

VRE Fare-Free September

The Virginia Railway Express is going fare-free systemwide in September and between six Northern Virginia stations in October!

Updated Library Hours

FCPL branches have modified hours due to staff recruitment challenges. Adjusted hours:


Regional branches: Mon & Tues: 1-9 pm. Wed thru Sun: 10 am-6 pm. Community branches: Mon: 1-9 pm. Tues thru Sat: 10 am-6 pm.


More information: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/fairfax-county-public-library-modifies-branch-hours

GreenDrop Grand Opening in Franconia District

GreenDrop offers an easy, convenient, and eco-friendly way for communities to donate clothing, shoes, and household items that help support our nonprofit partners. GreenDrop accepts gently used items on behalf of the American Red Cross, the Purple Heart Service Foundation, or the National Federation of the Blind, which helps support their missions.

 

GreenDrop is excited to open a new donation site in Franconia in September! GreenDrop will be open daily from 10 am to 5 pm daily, with a friendly attendant on site accepting donations at our clean trailer in the parking lot. Donating to GreenDrop is good for residents to declutter, good for the Earth to keep items out of landfills, and also benefits a great local charity. This is good for everyone!

 

Join us to celebrate the ribbon cutting of this new GreenDrop donation site on Friday, September 9th, at the Manchester Lakes Shopping Center at 10 am! We hope to see you there! 

Lake Accotink's 60th Anniversary

Last weekend, I joined members of the community and my Board colleagues to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Lake Accoink Park. The park first opened on August 26, 1962!


Thank you, Fairfax County Park Authority staff and volunteers, for organizing this successful event.

Volunteer Opportunity with GrandInvolve

Would you like a unique and interesting volunteer experience while making a difference in a school, classroom, family, or in one child’s life? Join in at GrandInvolve, a nonprofit program that facilitates volunteer opportunities in 25 of Fairfax County’s Title I elementary schools!


GrandInvolve is recruiting adult volunteers who are interested in providing classroom assistance this Fall with math, reading, and other simple educational tasks that the teacher requests. For a rewarding experience with flexible hours and various responsibilities, consider volunteering with GrandInvolve.


Find more information (including an automated Volunteer Interest Form) at www.grandinvolve.org/volunteer-with-us.


Questions? Email info@grandinvolve.org.

Upcoming George Mason University Events

Enjoy the Arts at Mason!


Mason’s Center for the Arts hosts a variety of performances delighting the entire family. Enjoy performances by Broadway’s Kristin Chenoweth, the Virginia Opera, and the 5 Browns to extraordinarily talented musicians such as Robert McDuffie.


Learn more: https://cfa.gmu.edu/events/2022-2023-season.  

 

Explore the Celestial World


Learn more about the stars, our solar system, galaxies, and celestial events at the George Mason University Observatory on the Fairfax Campus. Public tours of the observatory are conducted on alternating Monday evenings during the academic year. Scientific talks are approximately 30 minutes long; the information presented is appropriate for ages 5 years and older.


More information: https://science.gmu.edu/academics/departments-units/physics-and-astronomy-department/observatory/visit.  

Hidden in Plain Sight

The Hidden in Plain Sight (HIPS) program is an IN-PERSON interactive program for adults to be educated about the signs of risky behavior in teens and young adults. It touches on drug and alcohol use, vaping, mental health and behavioral concerns, risky sexual behaviors, trending "challenges" and more.


This is a hands-on learning adventure for parents and guardians only! We guide you through a presentation that opens your eyes to what is right in front of you. This program begins with a “show and tell” of “red flags” that can indicate risky behavior in teens.


That is followed by an educational portion that includes a PowerPoint presentation detailing more "red flags" and how they are indicative of — or used in — risky behavior.


We include up-to-date statistics and local trends, and law enforcement officers will share their experiences they have had in our community identifying risky behaviors and helping to put kids on the right path to a healthy life. Let’s open the door to communicating with our teens!


Register here: https://bit.ly/mtvhips22

Questions? Katie.Watts@fairfaxcounty.gov

Election Page Program

Fairfax County requests high school students to serve as election pages at the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 8!


Help make our democracy work and earn service-learning hours. 


Apply by September 30th: Election Day High School Student Program | Elections (fairfaxcounty.gov)

COVID-19 Updates

COVID-19 updates:


  • Novavax vaccine now available for adults ages 18+. Due to limited availability, Novavax will be offered by appointment only
  • CDC updates quarantine guidance
  • Second boosters available for those who are eligible


For more details: http://ow.ly/GzHQ50KlcxC

Fairfax County COVID-19 Resources

COVID-19:

Contact our Health Department COVID-19 Call Center on weekdays: 9:00 am-7:00 pm at 703-267-3511.


Text FFXCOVID to 888777 to receive updates from Fairfax County about COVID-19; text FFXCOVIDESP to 888777 for updates in Spanish.


Email questions or concerns to ffxcovid@fairfaxcounty.gov. This email account will be staffed Monday through Friday, 8:00 am-4:30 pm.


Follow the Fairfax County Government and Health Department Facebook Page


Follow @fairfaxcounty and @fairfaxhealth on Twitter.


For regular updates, continue to follow the following trusted sources:


Fairfax County Health Department’s COVID-19 Homepage

Virginia Department of Health

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Rodney L. Lusk

Franconia District Supervisor

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